The Indian Air Force (IAF) has given a clean chit to its pilot and crew accused of abandoning an injured radio operator after their Mi-17 chopper was attacked by Maoists while on a rescue mission in Chhattisgarh in January.

IAF Wing Commander TS Singh was on an evacuation mission in the South Bastar district of Chhattisgarh when his helicopter was attacked by Maoist rebels.

A radio operator of the Chhattisgarh Police, who was handling the communications for the chopper, was severely hit in the firing.

The helicopter was forced to land in the jungles of Timilwara, not far from where the crew was supposed to evacuate a wounded soldier.

The pilot, crew and the two Garud Commandos on board the chopper escaped, apparently to call for assistance, leaving behind the injured man, a light machine gun and personal weapons.